The Venue

Brewer's Art is one of the city's best places to plunk down and eat or lounge and drink, or both.

Where -- 1106 N. Charles St., 410-547-6925

Web site -- belgianbeer.com.

Notable -- The long list of beers includes selections from Italy, Germany, Asia, Scandinavia, France and North America. The bar also offers plenty of wines and scotches and about five house drafts -- one of which is the award-winning Resurrection Ale.

Vibe -- When you walk into the upstairs bar and dining areas, it feels as if you've been invited to dinner at a homey, turn-of-the-century mansion. A large chandelier hangs in the barroom, and paintings decorate the walls. In contrast, the cellar bar and lounge area could be something out of a Sherlock Holmes novel. Warm, low lighting reveals ancient brick archways coated in peeling red paint.

What to wear -- The place seems as if it can accommodate all styles, although hot pink Mohawks might fit in better downstairs.